North Bay advocate criticizes CRTC decision

A North Bay advocate says a decision by the Canadian Radio Television-Telecommunications Commission to pull the license of a Quebec City radio station could “erode” freedom of expression and “the very mechanisms for recourse” available to free speech is perceived to have turned to hate.

Barb Anello, the acting chairwoman of the Disabled Women’s Network Ontario, was reacting to the CRTC’s actions yesterday when it shut down CHOI-FM most because morning hosts Jeff Fillion and André Arthur, repeatedly offended "Canadian values.”

This is the first time the CRTC has revoked a license for the conduct of radio hosts.

Inflammatory and vulgar
Fillion, the morning host of CHOI FM had, Anello said, the following to say about a psychiatric patient: "Why don't they just pull the plug on him? He doesn't deserve to live. The guy's a freaking burden on society."

The host has also been quoted making sexist comments about a TV weather announcer's "incredible set of boobs", adding that "the size of the brain is not directly proportional to the size of the bra."

Anello said she finds Fillion's comments to be highly inflammatory and vulgar.

“But I also find it more disturbing, that in spite of such behaviour, the popular radio station's ratings have steadily increased,” Anello said.

“What does that say about the station's 300,000 audience members who tune in to hear the sexist, racist, vulgar, slanderous, and crude commentary of the Quebecois versions of Howard Stern?”

Earning power
Anello “connects the dots” in the “shock radio” picture.

“Fillion and Arthur make outrageous comments because their audience responds with the desired outcome they seek - they tune in,” Anello said.

“When the audience tunes in, ratings go up. When ratings go up, so does the station's advertising revenue and hence the radio jocks' earning power and marketability.”

That, Anello said, has made the station owner, Patrice Demers, “a much richer man.”

The Globe and Mail’s Margaret Wente, for example, reports that the radio station purchased eight years ago by Demers for $2 million is now worth $22 million and employs 35 people.

Erode freedom
Demers will appeal the CRTC ruling to prevent the station's closure on August 31, 2004.


Anello doesn’t believe, though, that the CRTC should put the station out of business and cause the loss of 35 jobs.

“Such a precedent by the CRTC would surely erode freedom of expression,” Anello said.

“While neither Fillion nor Arthur's brand of radio appeal to me, I would nevertheless defend their right to free speech, while holding my nose.”

Freedom to offend
Inciting violence and hatred against a particular group or community is one thing, Anello said, but pervasive insults and ridicule of particular groups “is another kettle of fish.”

“If Canadians truly want something to be outraged over, they may want to focus attention on the widespread poverty in Canada,” Anello said, “the criminalization and the feminization of poverty, along with violence against women rather than the offensive insults uttered by a pair of moronic radio jocks.”

Anello acknowledges her opinion will offend “any of my friends and colleagues,” but said that’s something that happens in a free and democratic society.

“In Canada we have the right to express a differing point of view as much as we have the freedom to offend,” Anello said.

Free speech
Mechanisms exist for anyone sufficiently disturbed by Fillion's comments to respond.

“Ignore it, boycott the advertisers, lobby for stiff fines for abusive commentary but don't ban free speech. That's what happens in China folks,” Anello said.

At the end of the day, it's my view that the CRTC, an unelected body, is not the appropriate body to determine what constitutes ‘acceptable Canadian values—that’s a job for Canadians and our elected representatives.”